by Daniel Franco
Every once in a while, there are those little moments when one looks into himself and realises things, values stuff and appreciates details. Yesterday, for a few seconds, I reminded myself why I love films.
Like any given Sunday, I found myself in a movie theatre to enjoy a movie. On this occasion, it was Gravity. Alfonso Cuarón´s film is so difficult to describe in words; a mandatory watch in 3D and IMAX. A visually astonishing film that creates emotions and rises blood pressure. An incredible journey.
But it wasn´t Gravity the responsible of my little inner trip. The event occurred minutes before, with the previous movie trailers.
Every once in a while, there are those little moments when one looks into himself and realises things, values stuff and appreciates details. Yesterday, for a few seconds, I reminded myself why I love films.
Like any given Sunday, I found myself in a movie theatre to enjoy a movie. On this occasion, it was Gravity. Alfonso Cuarón´s film is so difficult to describe in words; a mandatory watch in 3D and IMAX. A visually astonishing film that creates emotions and rises blood pressure. An incredible journey.
But it wasn´t Gravity the responsible of my little inner trip. The event occurred minutes before, with the previous movie trailers.
I come from the generation who saw Star Wars in theatres. My first memory of a movie theatre when I was three. I found light-sabers, neverending spaceships and an overwhelming epic soundtrack. Apologises for the not so original story (for this experience happened to thousands like me), but Star Wars achieved many hard tasks, especially for its time. It became a milestone, modelled personalities and broke ground for generations.
Nowadays it is harder to achieve this; audiences are so used to seeing everything. Surprising is no longer easy, making an impact is harder and dazzling us is almost impossible.
There are many movies and sagas sticking with us for a long time. In the end, they fade away for new ones to come.
In 2001, The Lord of the Rings made an impact in almost the same way Star Wars did 35 years ago. Peter Jackson made me feel similar emotions, in my adulthood, that I had in my childhood and teen years thanks to living film legends like Lucas or Spielberg.
We live in a time of fashions and trends. What is "cool" today is old tomorrow. After proper enjoyment of LOTR, we forget it and get obsessed with Harry Potter or Twilight. Then came The Hunger Games, Transformers, the everlasting superheroes, or whatever product Hollywood wants us to worship for a time to sell merchandise. But as one becomes mature, after seeing so much cinema and reading so much; it seems complicate to get the tingles for anything any more. Yesterday, I felt goosebumps again watching The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug trailer in 3D on the big screen.
Nowadays it is harder to achieve this; audiences are so used to seeing everything. Surprising is no longer easy, making an impact is harder and dazzling us is almost impossible.
There are many movies and sagas sticking with us for a long time. In the end, they fade away for new ones to come.
In 2001, The Lord of the Rings made an impact in almost the same way Star Wars did 35 years ago. Peter Jackson made me feel similar emotions, in my adulthood, that I had in my childhood and teen years thanks to living film legends like Lucas or Spielberg.
We live in a time of fashions and trends. What is "cool" today is old tomorrow. After proper enjoyment of LOTR, we forget it and get obsessed with Harry Potter or Twilight. Then came The Hunger Games, Transformers, the everlasting superheroes, or whatever product Hollywood wants us to worship for a time to sell merchandise. But as one becomes mature, after seeing so much cinema and reading so much; it seems complicate to get the tingles for anything any more. Yesterday, I felt goosebumps again watching The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug trailer in 3D on the big screen.
Over ten years ago, I feel in love with Middle Earth, and I still am. Peter Jackson has managed the impossible, that an adult may feel a child again. History will remember, The Lord of the Rings trilogy, but The Hobbit one is equally as magnificent.
It's enough to watch the trailer and listen to the score to imbue ourselves into the darkest part of Middle Earth. Bilbo´s words define perfectly my feeling about this film:
"Truly, the titles and songs, fall utterly short your enormity. Oh Smaug, the stupendous."
And this film will be indeed "stupendous", not only because it comes from one of the best books ever written, one of the best stories ever told, but film-making wise it is a great, better grand, movie. It is a big movie made to be grand, colossal as any epic story should be. Built out of a big budget, yes, but also out of love and talent.
Everything, even in the trailer, has been carefully placed. Details like the music, resembling a lot to the music of the trailer of The Two Towers, the second part of The Lord of the Rings saga (a theme called "Gothic Power" by X-Ray Dog that never showed up on the movie).
And of course, all the numerous nuances of this gifted cast. I feel goosebumps when I hear "We´ve been blind in our blindness" from Gandalf, or "What did you find? My courage" from Bilbo, with more contradictory emotions in just one face expression than many actors in a whole acting life.
So thank you, Mr. Jackson for bringing back to me my most precious good, my childhood feelings.
I am definitely watching this film, more than once, and in all its 3D and 48 HFR glory.
It would be wrong not to.
It's enough to watch the trailer and listen to the score to imbue ourselves into the darkest part of Middle Earth. Bilbo´s words define perfectly my feeling about this film:
"Truly, the titles and songs, fall utterly short your enormity. Oh Smaug, the stupendous."
And this film will be indeed "stupendous", not only because it comes from one of the best books ever written, one of the best stories ever told, but film-making wise it is a great, better grand, movie. It is a big movie made to be grand, colossal as any epic story should be. Built out of a big budget, yes, but also out of love and talent.
Everything, even in the trailer, has been carefully placed. Details like the music, resembling a lot to the music of the trailer of The Two Towers, the second part of The Lord of the Rings saga (a theme called "Gothic Power" by X-Ray Dog that never showed up on the movie).
And of course, all the numerous nuances of this gifted cast. I feel goosebumps when I hear "We´ve been blind in our blindness" from Gandalf, or "What did you find? My courage" from Bilbo, with more contradictory emotions in just one face expression than many actors in a whole acting life.
So thank you, Mr. Jackson for bringing back to me my most precious good, my childhood feelings.
I am definitely watching this film, more than once, and in all its 3D and 48 HFR glory.
It would be wrong not to.
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